A Life Under Construction

First Russian Club Смол

One of my more difficult classes this semester is Beginner’s Russian. Trying to learn a new language from a new language family is super difficult, but it’s also one of my favorite activities. I really want to aim for fluency if I decide to continue pursuing Russian for the rest of the my college career, so I’ve joined Russian Club. Today, the club had its first смол (table), an event wherein Russian Club members of all years and fluency levels get together to speak in Russian in an informal setting.

As a freshman who has only been in college for a month, my Russian is extremely limited.

I couldn’t understand most of what was being said, but I’m already learning many new words. Хитать, which means “to read.” Немного, “a little.” I also heard new words that I can’t remember now, but at least I’ve been exposed to them and will recognize them faster next time. I got to practice the Russian I do know, with sentences like “Меня зовум Лиди” and “Я учу русский язык.”

Even though I couldn’t understand everything, and I certainly couldn’t say everything, I’m looking forward to next week’s Russian смол to keep pursuing this fascinating language.